SoCal Garden Clinic archive: Advice from the pros

You asked. Our experts answered. Here's our library of SoCal Garden Clinic entries. Submit your own question to home@latimes.com with "Garden Clinic" in the subject line. Because of the volume of mail we receive, we can respond only to select questions.

Question: I have a plant with five round watermelons growing from it. They are all dark green. How do I know when to pick them? Martha R. SklarLos Angeles Answer: That's a question that someone recently asked us at the counter of our nursery. Here are three easy ways to tell when watermelon is...

Question: I live in San Diego and am trying to grow horsetail reed as a hedge in front of my fence. I water three times a week and have added fertilizer. The horsetail reed grows tall, but then it dies. A few plants are surviving, but they are not flourishing. My yard is a xeriscape design with...

You might recall that when a reader wrote about twin rows of Italian cypress — one established and healthy, the other newer and dying — the SoCal Garden Clinic asked a Pasadena nurseryman to tackle the question of why the plants might be struggling for survival. Now, with spring planting upon us...

This week our SoCal Garden Clinic turns to problematic avocado trees: Question from reader Steven Klein of Malibu: In November 2011, I planted a 3-gallon Lamb Hass avocado tree on a slope with full sun about 90% of the day. Despite my ineptitude, this tree continues to survive, although it has...

Pat Morgan of Westlake Village wrote to the SoCal Garden Clinic to ask: My fig tree was started from a cutting three years ago and was recently transplanted to our atrium. It has been in a container in the same place for over a year. How should I create an espalier frame for it? For an answer we...

Question from reader Vince Capati of Torrance: I love the color and variety of gazanias, and they seem to work well in our climate as long as they're not over-watered. However, I have trouble keeping them in bloom. I would love any advice on how to keep these plants flowering and from looking like...

Dear SoCal Garden Clinic, My garden, as well as many of my neighbors', is overrun by nutgrass. I have tried the product recommended by a local garden store, with not good results. It is expensive, and I tried it two times, but the nutgrass grew back with a vengeance. I also tried digging up the...

I have two orange trees that were planted 12 years ago. They bore beautiful fruit until four years ago, when my gardener pruned them rather severely. Since that pruning, no more fruit at all. But the trees appear healthy -- very green, with few yellowing leaves. Please advise as to how we can get...

Do you have any suggestions for drought-tolerant, kid-friendly ground cover? We've read that dymondia works well to fill in space between pavers but haven't found any talk of how well this plant works as a grass substitute, spread across a yard. Can our kids walk barefoot? Will the dymondia attract...